Turkey

Ankara – a joint delegation of the Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR visited Turkey in the framework of the preparation of the opinion on the amendments to the electoral legislation and related “harmonisation laws” adopted in March and April 2018.

The delegation held meetings with the representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Board of Elections, the parties represented in Parliament, the Union of Bar Associations and the NGOs.

The request for this opinion came from the PACE Monitoring Committee. The adoption of the relevant draft opinion by the Venice C... read more

Ankara - A delegation of the Venice Commission accompanied the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) election observation delegation to advise on the legal framework of the early presidential election and parliamentary elections of 24 June 2018.

The 35-member PACE delegation observed the opening, voting and counting processes of the presidential elections.

By letter dated 4 May 2018 the Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by member States of the Council of Europe requested the Venice Commission to provide an opinion on the amendments to the electoral legislation and related “harmonisation laws” adopted in March and April 2018 in Turkey.

The Venice Commission prepared an opinion after the parliamentary elections in Turkey planned on 24 June 2018.

Ankara – The President of the Venice Commission participated in the International Conference on “The role of Constitutional Courts in the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms” at the occasion of the 56th anniversary of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Turkey.

Turkey - CHP leader to meet with the President of the Venice Commission

08/11/2017

Council of Europe, Strasbourg - During his visit to Strasbourg in the framework of the World Democracy Forum, Mr Kılıçdaroğlu, the CHP leader, is to hold a meeting with the Venice Commission’s President Mr Gianni Buquicchio.

Venice – The 110th plenary of the Venice Commission has just adopted its Opinion on the constitutional amendments submitted to a national referendum on 16 April 2017. This opinion had been requested by the Monitoring Committee of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly.

First of all, the Commission warns against a “personal regime” in Turkey in its definitive, as discussed and adopted in plenary, text of the opinion.

The Commission notes that by removing necessary checks and balances, the amendments would not follow the model of a democratic presidential system... read more

Ankara – a delegation of the Venice Commission will exchange views with Turkish authorities, on the recent constitutional amendments. This visit takes place in the framework of the preparation of an opinion on the amendments, requested by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.. The draft opinion will be discussed by the Venice Commission in plenary in March 2017.

Paris - During its meeting in Paris on 14 December 2016, the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe decided to request an opinion of the Venice Commission on the draft law on the amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey.

Turkey - request for an opinion on the measures provided in the recent emergency decree-laws with respect to the freedom of the media.

02/12/2016

At the request of the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy of PACE, the Venice Commission will prepare an opinion on the effects on the freedom of the media of the recent measures taken within the state of emergency. The opinion will be presented at the March 2017 Plenary Session in Venice.

Ankara - following a request submitted in October by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, a group of rapporteurs of the Venice Commission, accompanied by Secretary Thomas Markert, will visit Ankara in order to meet the local stakeholders and discuss with them emergency decrees adopted after the failed coup attempt. The opinion will be then drafted and submitted for adoption at the December 2016 plenary session of the Venice Commission.

Tirana - During its meeting of 22 September 2016, the Monitoring Committee of theParliamentary Assembly requested the Venice Commission to provide an opinion on “the overall compatibility of the implementation of the state of emergency in Turkey, in particular all subsequent decree-laws, with the Council of Europe standards.”

Ankara - A delegation of the Venice Commission visits Turkey in the framework of the preparation of an opinion on “suspension, by a provisional clause, of article 83 of the Constitution of Turkey, which guarantees the parliamentary inviolability of members of the Grand National Assembly”.

I strongly condemn the attempted coup d’état in Turkey; any changes in the government must follow democratic channels.

At the same time, I am alarmed by the Turkish media reports: since the failed coup, two judges of the Constitutional Court and five members of the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors have been arrested. More than 2700 judges have been suspended and many have been detained. I am convinced that especially while reacting to a violent attempt to overthrow an elected government, it is essential to respect the rule of law.

Request for opinion - PACE - Turkey

22/06/2016

On 22 June 2016 the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted Resolution no. 2121 (2016) on “The functioning of democratic institutions in Turkey”, whereby the PACE requested an opinion of the Venice Commission on the draft law on the restructuring of the Court of Cassation and Council of State of Turkey and on the constitutional aspects of the appointments of members of high judicial bodies in this country (§35). An opinion will be prepared with a view of its submission for adoption at the next Plenary Session of the Venice Commission in October 2016.

Request for opinion - Turkey

26/05/2016

Paris - on 23 May 2016, the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly decided to request the opinion of the Venice Commission on the duties, competences and functioning of the criminal peace judgeships established in 2014 in Turkey.

Ankara - In the framework of a recent request of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly, the Venice Commission is preparing an opinion, to be adopted in June 2016, on the legal framework for the imposition of curfews in Turkey. The rapporteurs visited Ankara on 26-27 April to exchange views with the relevant authorities - Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior, under Secretariat of Public Order and Security, the Constitutional Court – as well as with the representatives of political parties and of the civil society.

Ankara – In the framework of the preparation of an opinion on the regulation of publications on the internet and combating crimes committed by means of such publication, a delegation of the Venice Commission visited Turkey on 19-20 April 2016.

The delegation met with the representatives of the following Turkish authorities: the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications, the Telecommunication Communication Presidency, the Union of Access Providers, the Court of Cassation, the Union of Turkish Bar Associations, the Ministry of Justice, the Prosecutor’s Office, Peace... read more

PACE – Request for opinion – Turkey

15/03/2016

Paris – During its meeting in Paris on 9 March 2016, the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly decided to request the opinion of the Venice Commission on the compatibility of the legal framework governing curfews in Turkey with Council of Europe standards.

Ankara – A delegation of the Venice Commission visited Ankara in the framework of the preparation of an Opinion on Articles 216, 299, 301 and 314 of the Turkish Penal Code.

Turkey - 90th anniversary of Ankara University Faculty of Law - International law congress

03/11/2015

Ankara - The President of the Commission is invited to the International law congress on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of Ankara Faculty of Law. Mr Buquicchio intervenes on the standards on judicial independence and their relevance for Turkey.

Ankara - At the request of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the Venice Commission ensures legal assistance to the Election Observation Mission of the Assembly in the context of the parliamentary elections of 1 November 2015.

Declaration on Interference with Judicial Independence in Turkey

20/06/2015

On 20 June 2015, the Venice Commission adopted the enclosed "Declaration on Interference with Judicial Independence in Turkey".

Ankara - At the request of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the Venice Commission ensures legal assistance to the Election Observation Mission of the Assembly in the context of the parliamentary elections of 7 June 2015.

Ankara - The Venice Commission organised together with the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) a Roundtable meeting “Towards a new Constitution: Judicial independence, decentralised governance, methodology”. The President of the Venice Commission, Gianni Buquicchio, and the Secretary of the Venice Commission, Thomas Markert, participated in the Roundtable.

Turkey - Individual Application and Protection of Human Rights at national level

27/11/2014 - 28/11/2014

Antalya -The Directorate of Human Rights of the Council of Europe and the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Turkey are organising from 27 to 28 November an International Conference on “Individual Application to Constitutional Court as a System to Protect Human Rights at National Level” within the framework of the Council of Europe Project funded by the Human Rights Trust Fund on “Supporting the Individual Application to the Constitutional Court in Turkey”. The President of the VEnice Commission Gianni BUQUICCHIO participates in the conference.

Council of Europe, Strasbourg – The President of the Venice Commission Mr Gianni Buquicchio met with the Minister of Justice Mr Bekir Bozdağ. An exchange of views on the current situation regarding the judiciary in Turkey took place.

Turkey – symposium on the rule of law

08/05/2014 - 09/05/2014

Istanbul - Participation of Venice Commission representative in a Symposium on “The Rule of Law and Justice”, organised by Yüksel Karkin Küçük Attorney Partnership

Istanbul - “When attending the Conference of Asian Constitutional Courts in Istanbul I was informed about statements by representatives of the executive harshly criticising the Constitutional Court of Turkey. This Court plays a crucial role to uphold the core values of the Council of Europe: the rule of law, democracy and human rights. Recent decisions of the Court have made an important contribution to strengthening the independence of the judiciary and freedom of expression in Turkey. Through these decisions the Court has shown its ability to effectively fulfil its constitutional role as an... read more

Turkey – President Buquicchio meets Minister Çavuşoğlu

08/04/2014

Council of Europe, Strasbourg – President of the Venice Commission Gianni Buquicchio meets Turkish Minister for European Affairs and Chief Negotiator with the EU Mr Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu to discuss recent developments in Turkey and future cooperation with the Venice Commission.

Council of Europe, Strasbourg - I was asked about the position of the Venice Commission on the proposed amendments to the Turkish legislation on the judiciary and in particular on the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors.

First of all, I would like to underline that the Venice Commission has not seen and even less, examined this text. However, we are aware that serious concerns have been raised as to the compatibility of the amendments with international standards and the Turkish Constitution. By contrast, the current legislation, introduced only a few years ago, was positively ... read more

Turkey - Conference on Institutionalisation and Sustainability of Democracy

27/11/2013

Istanbul – The Secretary of the Venice Commission Thomas Markert addresses a conference on Institutionalisation and Sustainability of Democracy organised by the Istanbul Policy Centre (at Sabanci University) and by TÜSİAD

Turkey - EU Joint parliamentary committee

14/02/2013 - 15/02/2013

Ankara, Grand National Assembly of Turkey – President of the Venice Commission Gianni BUQUICCHIO is invited to address the Turkey - EU Joint parliamentary committee on the topic of the “New Constitution in the framework of Fundamental Rights and Freedom”.

Ankara - The Venice Commission will participate in the Symposium on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Constitutional Court of Turkey.

Turkey - Reforms of the judicial system - Symposium

25/10/2011 - 26/10/2011

Istanbul - The Venice Commission participated in a Symposium on the "Reforms in the Turkish judicial system, High Council of Judges and Prosecutors from past to present and its comparison to European Practice".

Ankara - A delegation of the Venice Commission held meetings with the Constitutional Court, the Council of State, the Court of Cassation and the Ministry of Justice in view of the preparation of an opinion on the Law on the Constitutional Court.

Istanbul - Conference of the OSCE/ODIHR - Venice Commission Guidelines on Political Party Regulation

05/09/2011 - 06/09/2011

Representatives of the Venice Commission participate in a Conference on the OSCE/ODIHR - Venice Commission Guidelines on Political Party Regulation, followed by a meeting of experts on political parties, organised by OSCE/ODIHR.

Constitutional Justice

Istanbul, Ankara - A Delegation of the Venice Commission visits Turkey in connection with the forthcoming Opinion on the recognition of the legal personality of religious communities in Turkey. The Delegation meets representatives of religious communities, including the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, and representatives of the Turkish authorities.